Q&A

1. How white will my teeth be at the end of the treatment?

This depends on the mineral content contained within your teeth, so results can vary between individuals. Mineral content depletes with age, and can also be affected by tetracycline antibiotics which you may have taken as a child. Generally speaking, we will get your teeth as white as they will naturally go, which can be very white, however, if you would prefer not to have this level of whiteness, you can request this during your pre-treatment consultation.

2. How soon will I see results?

Immediately: there is no waiting around to see the results! If we do not whiten your teeth, you will not be charged for the procedure.

3. Is the treatment painful?

Most clients find the process painless, however, a very small percentage of clients may feel some mild tooth sensitivity, especially if they consume very cold or hot food or drinks in the hours following the treatment. It’s recommended that clients avoid consuming these sorts of food or beverage for the first 24 hours following the treatment.

4. How long will the whitening last?

This varies from person to person and depends on your diet and lifestyle, but the effects usually last for 1 year or longer. Periodic touch-up treatments are recommended for clients who frequently consume coffee, tea, red wine or other staining foods and drinks, or for those that use tobacco products. Please see our Smile Care Plan page.

5. Is the process harmful to teeth?

No! The effect on teeth is completely harmless. Scientific research has shown that the active ingredients in our Teeth Whitening Gel are effective and safe for cosmetic teeth whitening and therefore approved by the MSDS, FDA and PSA.. Our Teeth Whitening Gel does not change or damage the structure of the teeth; it merely removes staining to restore their natural whiteness.

6. Will the gel whiten crowns, veneers or false teeth?

The whitening process will remove staining from within the surface layers of natural teeth. However, the gel will only remove the outer surface staining from crowns, veneers and false teeth. This means that your false teeth will be ‘cleaned’ back to their original colour.

If you are planning to have a crown, bridge, filling or false tooth, it is recommended that you have your teeth whitened first. Your dentist will then be able to match the shade of the false tooth to your natural teeth’s whiter shade.

7. Is teeth whitening classified as dentistry?

Teeth whitening products were legally classified as cosmetics in 2001 and are therefore more appropriate to the beauty industry than the dental industry. However, the UK General Dental Council (GDC) believe the procedure should be carried out by dentists, since they are teeth specialists. Bright White Smiles therefore employ GDC registered dentists to carry out the Teeth Whitening process, even though the procedure itself is very simple and completely non-invasive.

8. How long does the treatment take?

Please allow 60-80 minutes for the entire duration, as a consultation precedes the whitening treatment.

9. Who cannot undergo the power teeth whitening treatment?

Our teeth whitening treatment is not suitable for clients who are pregnant or lactating, and is inadvisable for children under the age of 18. Additionally, any clients with known allergies to hydrogen peroxide should not undergo the treatment.

10. What causes tooth discolouration?

This can be separated into two categories: extrinsic staining and intrinsic staining.

Extrinsic stains are those that appear on the surface of the teeth as a result of exposure to dark-coloured beverages, foods, tobacco,. Superficial extrinsic stains are minor and can be removed with brushing and prophylactic dental cleaning. Stubborn extrinsic stains can be removed with more involved efforts, like teeth bleaching. Persistent extrinsic stains can penetrate into the dentin and become ingrained if they are not dealt with early.

Intrinsic stains are those that form on the interior of teeth. Intrinsic stains result from trauma, aging, exposure to minerals (like tetracycline) during tooth formation and/or excessive ingestion of fluoride.

11. What other considerations are there?

Consider a dental visit beforehand if you are unsure of your suitability for teeth whitening. Also, leave at least one week before seeing your hygienist after the teeth whitening treatment, and we recommend seeing your hygienist at least one week before teeth whitening.

Performed by qualified dentists

Meet our team of General Dental Council (GDC) registered dentists who carry out our whitening treatments